Mal: പാലക്കാട് pālakkāṭ
‘Blackboard Tree Wood’ [Palghat, Palakkattussery] City/District, Kerala,
From Mal: pāla, ‘blackboard tree’ [Echites/Alstonia scholaris]; and kāṭu, ‘wilderness’, ‘wood’.
This is sometimes called the ‘seven-leaved milk-tree’ because of its free-flowing milky sap [Mal: pāl, ‘milk’].
Its light and fast-growing wood has proved to be suitable for making pencils, while its bitter bark and sap is used to treat bowel complaints.
Palakkad Fort was rebuilt by Hyder Ali in 1766. It changed hands a few times until it was finally captured by the British in 1790 once and for all. It was then reconditioned ready for the assault on Tipu Sultan at Srirangapatnam in 1799.
Palakkad Fort: An aerial view Shafeeq basheer